[.ca] Spirit

From Amazon.co.uk:
It's time for an update of our image of Jewel, the ingenue who set the music world on fire with her 1995 debut album, Pieces of You. After all, that effort consisted primarily of songs Jewel had written several years before, some of them dating back to her days as a free- spirited waif living in a van on the beach in San Diego. Now, at 25, she's become a sort of guru for self-expression and full disclosure, revealing perhaps too much of herself in see-through dresses worn to awards shows and a critically drubbed (yet bestselling) book of poetry. Spirit makes plain why Jewel's well-intentioned yet sometimes facile lyrics strike a chord with her audience while her poetry lies flat on the page. On songs like "Deep Water", "Hands", and "Down So Long", her words are borne aloft by sparkling melodies and her soaring voice, making even the most cynical observer take a schoolgirl-notebook image such as "your heart like grape gum on the ground" or an unreassuring platitude like "If I could tell the world just one thing / It would be that we're all OK" somewhat in stride. On Pieces of You, Jewel posed the musical question "Who will save your soul?" On Spirit, it sounds like she wants to do it herself. And the truth is, if you don't overanalyse it, the album does act as a sort of balm for wounded psyches or maybe a primer for raising your own inner child. Maybe she's right and we are all OK. Who knew? --Daniel Durchholz

Chronique amazon.fr:
Lors de la sortie de son premier album, Pieces Of You, Jewel fut considérée comme la nouvelle égérie folk par une critique dithyrambique. Après une participation remarquée aux concerts féminins du Lilith Fair et le succès de ses singles "You Were Meant For Me", "Who'll Save Your Soul ?" ou "Foolish Games", elle était attendue au tournant de son second album. Elle n'a pas manqué de décevoir, y compris ses fans. Spirit hésite entre hard folk (ce qui faisait l'originalité du premier disque tant il s'opposait aux courants musicaux émergents comme la techno) et pop surproduite. Non, n'est pas Joni Mitchell ou Joan Baez qui veut... --Pierre-Marie Dufour

Truly stands the test of time....:
I got this album back in 1998 and I still listen to it!! The songs have such a "certain" feeling that i can't completely describe and its such a beautiful work from a very beautiful and talented artist. The only "gripe" i have with this album is the version of Life Uncommon. I think she should have recorded a more raw and emotional version but hey there are plenty of live recordings of this song that will do. Anyways, I highly recommend Spirit for its poetic and soothing vibe. If you are new to Jewel, I'd recommend starting with THIS WAY. However, this album introduced me to Jewel so I guess this would be an excellent introduction as well!!

J'adore:
Les deux premiers disques de jewel (pieces of you et Spirit) sont ses meilleurs. Les mélodies sont douces. J'adore ce disque !

Beautifully sung, beautifully written:
Rock singer Jewel is definitely showing better writing skills and vocal performances on her second record Spirit. "Hands" rocks!

After so many listens, the same beautiful feelings:
I write this review because after so many listens, this album still brings in me so many beautiful things. It doesn't grow old, it always make me cry, it brings chills into my skin and it's still as deep as it was the first time I listened to it. Almost every song brings tears into my eyes, as I listen to the lyrics, I can't help but feel positive that this world will change. Thanks Jewel for bringing so much beauty into the world.

A must-have CD:
There are too many wonderful, insightful lyrics on this album to recount. "Deep Water" is an awesome song. "What's Simple is True" is gorgeous and evokes images of winter. "Hands" is utterly brilliant. "Kiss the Flame" is just amazing; as Jewel says, "let's run with the hunted, the untamed...embrace the faceless, the unnamed." "Down So Long" is a high-energy song and one of the best tracks. "Innocence Maintained" presents an interesting philosophy-something you don't get from most music artists today. "Jupiter" is an incredible song, especially lyric-wise; "Venus Demilo, in her half baked shell, understood the nature of love very well...she said a good love is delicious, you can't get enough too soon, it makes you so crazy you want to swallow the moon..." And the refrain gets better. "Fat Boy" is a gentle, compassionate song that must be appreciated for what it is; an expression of empathy for a fat boy. "Sometimes I feel the same..." "Enter from the East" is soft and slow and beautiful. "Barcelona" is one of the greatest songs on this CD, with an awesome beat, words, and performance. I also love "Life Uncommon;" Jewel sounds so great singing this. "Do You" is yet another of the memorable, outstanding songs on "Spirit," and last but not least is "Absence of Fear," which is beautifully written and sung, like the lot of Jewel's music. The bottom line? This moving, entertaining, influential album is a necessity for Jewel fans a strong recommendation for lovers of good music with a 'spirit'ual purpose behind it!

• Deep Water
• What's Simple is True
• Hands
• Kiss the Flame
• Down So Long
• Innocence Maintained
• Jupiter
• Fat Boy
• Enter from the East
• Barcelona
• Life Uncommon
• Do You
• Absence of Fear
• This Little Bird - (additional track)